Celery

Celery is a crunchy, low calorie vegetable with a unique flavor that noticeably changes when cooked. With loads of fiber and phytonutrients that fight against inflammation and cardiovascular disease, celery is a vegetable that should be consumed regularly in a heart healthy diet. While many believe that celery is a negative calorie food, meaning that more calories are burned rather than gained when consuming celery, this is a common myth.

Health benefits:

Antioxidant: Celery is an important source of conventional antioxidants such as vitamin C, beta-carotene (provitamin A), and manganese as well as phytochemicals such as phenolic acids, flavones, and flavonols. These antioxidants decrease the oxidative damage to body fats and blood vessel walls, which is beneficial in cardiovascular disease prevention.

Anti-inflammatory: The phytochemicals in celery helps prevent inflammation in the digestive tract and blood vessels by decreasing the activity of pro-inflammatory cytokines that cause inflammation.

Digestive tract support: Celery contains pectin-based polysaccharides that can provide the stomach with producing anti-inflammatory benefits. Celery extracts contain apiuman, which has been shown to improve the integrity of the stomach lining, decrease the risk of stomach ulcer, and better control the levels of stomach secretions.

Good source of:

Vitamin K, A, potassium, folate, C

Purchasing, storing, & enjoying:

Purchasing: Choose celery that looks crisp and snap easily when pulled apart. The leaves should be pale to bright green in color and free from yellow or brown patches. Celery is one of the “Dirty Dozen” (the top most contaminated produce) so organic is preferable. Celery is available year-round.

Storing: Store uncut celery in plastic bags for up to 5-7 days in the refrigerator. Freezing will cause celery to wilt and should be avoided unless you will be using it in a cooked recipe.

Enjoying:

To cut celery cut off the base and leaves, then wash the leaves and stalks under running water. Make sure to clean all grooves and not miss any soil that could be hiding.

Add chopped up celery to tofu salad for an added crunch.

Celery stalks and leaves are great for bringing hearty flavor to stews, soups, casseroles, and stir-fries.

Enjoy the childhood classic “Ants on a Log” by spreading peanut nut in the groove of the stalk and topping with raisins (ants).